Weekend Listomania: Special "Album? What the F**k is an Album?" Edition

[This was one of the very first Listomanias I posted -- back in 2007 (yipes)-- and to be honest, I had totally forgotten about it until the other day, when the subject of the Jefferson Airplane came up in casual conversation. In any case, I think that thematically it's pretty cool; as per usual, I've done some rewriting and made a couple of substitute nominations, just to keep my hand in. -- S.S.]

Okay, I have a birthday coming up (next Tuesday) and although I'm still younger than the demented vulgarian sitting in the People's now gilded White House, my work ethic just ain't what it used to be.

That being the case, I'm disinclined to write a long lead to today's post.

So let's get immediately to the business at hand.

To wit:

Sophomore Albums That Surpassed (Artistically) The Really Good Debut Albums That Preceded Them!!!

You know the cliche -- you have your entire life to write your first record, and then you have six months to write your second, which is why a lot of followup albums disappoint.

Perhaps the most obvious example is Pretenders II; an estimable work with some terrific songs, but small beer compared to the epochal first one.

More absurdly, think of the second Hootie and the Blowfish album.

Or rather, please don't think of it, as Hootie sucked right out of the gate, IMHO.

Although Fairweather Johnson was a really great album title. 😎

In any event, what do YOU think are the post-Elvis (Presley) rock/pop/folk/country/soul albums that best avoided the usual sequel slump?

Arbitrary rule: Nothing by The Beatles, or any other Brit invasion band is allowed, due to the fact that the difference between Brit and American album releases of the period is too obvious and confusing.

Okay -- submitted for your approval, my top of my head Top Eight would be......

8. Jefferson Airplane -- Surrealistic Pillow

I happen to be a fan of Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, which features work by their original drummer (and one of my all time musical heroes) the late great Skip Spence. That said -- c'mon. If you don't know that Pillow is a better album on every level, you probably shouldn't be allowed to take cash machine money out of your own account.

7. MC5 -- Back in the USA

The 5's debut -- recorded live -- was often impressive as a political and musical template, but the songwriting was inconsistent and the whole thing ultimately devolved into aural sludge at some point. However, the followup -- despite the fact that future Springsteen guru Jon Landau's production sucked hippo root -- featured short concise songs that totally rocked and got the band's revolutionary message over with a surprising level of wit and irony.

6. The Byrds -- Turn! Turn! Turn!

Not perhaps so staggeringly innovative as the first album -- which, after all, invented an entire new genre and sound -- but some of the songwriting and performances (the title track and the above Gene Clark masterpiece, for example) clearly surpassed the debut.

5. Marah -- Kids in Philly

Their indie debut was promising, but this is one of the great records of the 90s, an all but perfect mashup of Bruce Springsteen and The Replacements. They never even came close to equaling it, alas. I should add that it is one of my longtime dreams to play the song above live at very high volume in a band onstage somewhere. Which won't happen, but still.

4. Buffalo Springfield -- Buffalo Springfield Again

Not a dud song in the bunch, and production-wise it makes their first album sound like it was recorded on Edison cylinders.

3. Amy Winehouse -- Back to Black

Because we like to have something recorded in this century.

But seriously, folks -- Winehouse's debut album was the work of a talented journeyman with a lot of great influences. The followup, however, was the work of a fully formed artist.

I should add that special bonus points will be awarded to any reader who credibly posits a superior sophomore album by any artist SINCE Back in Black (which came out in 2006). I mean hell -- I'm hard pressed to think of a really good DEBUT record by ANYBODY in that time span. 😎😎

2. Bruce Springsteen -- The Wild, the Innocent and the E-Street Shuffle

The Boss's first album had its moments and changed a lot of lives, my own included. But this one? It sounds, still, like the kind of music that contains multitudes, the kind of rock-and-roll you only vaguely remember from the best dream you ever had.

And last but definitely not least....

1. Elvis Costello and the Attractions -- This Year's Model

Inarguable, I think, and thus further exegesis on my part would be superfluous.

Alrighty then -- what would YOUR choices be?

And have a great weekend, everybody!!!